c 


IF  FL  LIS. 


UNIV.  „ 
_DOgUMENTS  DEF 


DEPOSITORY 


Hawaii  Agricultural  Experiment  Station, 


HONOLULU. 


^fi'f'f^ 


E.  V.  WILCOX,  Special  Agent  in  Charge 


PRESS   BULLETIN    NO.  26 


The  Algaroba  in  Hawayf^-. 


rgv^v %\ 


\%'- •&,/ 


By  E.  V.  WILCOX, 
Special  Agent  in  Charge,  Hawaii  Agricultural  Experiment" 
Station,  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture. 


//'' 


INTRODUCTION  OF  THE  ALGAROBA. 

The  algaroba,  or  keawe  (Prosopis  juli flora),  is  commonly 
recognized  as  the  most  valuable  tree  which  has  thus  far  been  in- 
troduced into  the  Territory  of  Hawaii.  The  accounts  of  its  first 
introduction  into  the  Territory  are  somewhat  at  variance.  At 
the  corner  lot  belonging  to  the  Catholic  Cathedral  of  Honolulu 
stands  an  algaroba  tree  which  is  supposed  to  be  the  first  one  in- 
troduced, and  which  bears  a  tablet  stating  that  it  was  planted  by 
Father  Bachelot  in  1837.  In  support  of  this  tablet  we  find  the 
following  statement  in  an  article  on  the  "History  of  the  Hawaii- 
an Missions,"1  referring  to  the  second  visit  of  Father  Bachelot 
to  Honolulu :  "On  his  return  from  California  he  had  planted 
in  the  Mission  grounds  four  shoots  of  the  algaroba  tree,  until 
then  unknown  in  the  Islands.  Only  one  of  these  had  taken  root 
and  was  now  growing  fast.  As  the  worn-down  missionary  left 
his  mission  house,  never  again  to  return  to  it,  he  looked  upon  the 
plant  with  moistened  eyes  and  said  as  though  prophetically: 
'Even  as  this  young  tree  by  Divine  Providence  will  thrive  and 
cover  the  whole  of  the  island  with  its  shade/  "  etc.     Essentially 


i  Damien  Institute,  Vol.  12,  1903,  No.  12,  pages  190  and  191. 


the  same  statement  was  translated  into  French  and  subsequently 
published.2  In  the  "Pacific  Commercial  Advertiser"  for  Janu- 
ary  1,  1900,  in  an  article  by  H.  M.  Whitney,  we  find  the  follow- 
ing statement  placing  the  same  date  upon  the  first  introduction, 

v  Vv-  bit*  Attributing  it  to  another  man:  "The  algaroba — by  far  the 
most  valuable  tree  on  the  Islands — was  introduced  by  s< 3eds 
brought  from  Chile  by  Bishop  Maigret,  and  the  first  tree  started 

l\$X  ky  him  is  now  growing  in  the  north  corner  of  the  Catholic 
Church  yard."     A  drawing  of  the  Catholic  Cathedral  at  Hono- 

.  •.'•..  lulu  was  made  in  1842  and  was  subsequently  published  in  Paris 
with  certain  notations.  In  this  drawing  the  original  algaroba 
tree  is  shown  standing  considerably  higher  than  the  Cathedral. 
This  would  obviously  have  been  impossible  if  the  tree  had  been 
only  five  years  old  at  the  time  the  drawing  was  made.  Below 
the  drawing  of  the  Cathedral  is  a  printed  statement  in  French, 
which,  translated,  reads  as  follows :  "Tree  planted  by  Mr.  Bach- 
elot  in  1828.  It  is  a  magnificent  Acacia.  The  seed  was  brought 
from  the  Jardin  du  Roi  de  Paris."  Father  Reginald,  Librarian 
of  the  Catholic  Cathedral,  has  looked  up  all  of  the  records  relat- 
ing to  the  introduction  of  the  algaroba  and  considers  1828  as 
undoubtedly  the  correct  date.  He  states  in  a  recent  letter  to 
Father  Valentin  that  in  1837  there  were  already  several  alga- 
roba trees  from  the  seed  of  the  first  one.  Moreover,  the  state- 
ment in  the  previous  quotation,  that  the  original  tree  came  from 
a  shoot  imported  from  California,  may  be  considered  as  some- 
what doubtful  on  account  of  the  difficulty  of  propagating  the 
tree  from  shoots,  except  under  favorable  conditions.  Sho<»!- 
brought  by  sailing  vessel  from  California  would,  ordinarily,  not 
be  in  good  condition  for  planting  upon  their  arrival. 

BOTANY   AND   HABITAT. 

There  are  eighteen  or  more  species  of  Prosopis,  the  natural 
habitat  of  which  is  in  tropical  and  semi-tropical  America.  The 
algaroba  occurs  from  Texas  to  Chile  and  in  the  West  Indies. 


2  Ann.  Sacres  Coeurs,  1896,  pages  288-290. 


Another  species  (Prosopis  glandulosa),  known  also  as  the  Texas 
mesquite,  is  found  alongside  of  the  algaroba  in  Texas,  and  there 
are  a  few  trees  of  this  species  on  Molokai.  Seeds  from  these 
trees  have  also  been  planted  in  other  localities.  If  we  accept  as 
true  the  statement  that  the  original  seeds  were  brought  from 
Paris  by  Father  Bachelot  on  his  first  trip  to  the  Islands,  it  is 
impossible  to  determine  their  exact  origin.  The  tree  is,  of 
course,  not  native  in  France  and  the  seeds  must  have  been 
brought  there  from  some  other  locality. 

The  distribution  of  algaroba  in  Hawaii  is  largely  determined 
by  the  rainfall  conditions.  The  tree  thrives  best  in  dry  localities, 
and  is  somewhat  sensitive  to  salt  air.  Nevertheless,  on  the  wind- 
ward side  of  Lanai  there  is  a  fine  belt  of  algaroba  which  extends 
to  within  a  few  hundred  feet  of  the  seashore.  The  trees  which 
grow  nearest  the  water  on  the  leeward  side  of  the  Islands,  some- 
times have  the  leaves  destroyed  by  salt  spray  during  Kona 
storms,  but  recover  later,  showing  little  effects  from  the  salt 
water.  Algaroba  thrives  best  at  low  altitudes,  but  is  everywhere 
gradually  extending  to  higher  levels,  and  it  is  found  in  some 
localities  at  altitudes  as  high  as  two  thousand  feet.  Apparently, 
it  is  gradually  becoming  acclimated  to  the  higher  altitudes,  but 
it  bears  most  abundantly  at  lower  levels.  Considerable  attention 
has  been  given  to  the  distribution  of  this  tree  in  carrying  it  from 
one  island  or  locality  to  another,  but,  on  the  whole,  its  distribu- 
tion has  been  largely  accomplished  by  stock.  Practically  all  of 
the  islands  have  enormous  belts  of  algaroba  forest,  extending 
from  the  sea-shore,  on  the  leeward  side,  up  to  an  altitude  of  S00 
or  1,000  feet. 

USES   OF   ALGAROBA. 

There  are  few  trees  which  are  distinctly  useful  for  more  pur- 
poses than  is  true  for  the  algaroba.  Its  flowers  furnish  the  most 
important  source  of  pure  honey  known  in  the  Territory.  The 
bee-raisers  of  the  Territory  have  shown  an  active  interest  in 
securing  the  rights  of  placing  apiaries  so  as  to  utilize  to  the  full- 


est  extent  the  algaroba  forests.  The  yield  of  honey  is  recognized 
as  large  and  important,  and  occurs  at  two  seasons,  there  being 
two  crops  of  flowers  and  pods  annually. 

As  a  forage  crop  algaroba  is  of  far  greater  financial  value. 
The  pods  are  everywhere  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant grain  feeds  of  the  islands  and  are  greatly  relished  by  all 
kinds  of  live  stock,  including  chickens.  The  quantities  of  pods 
produced  by  the  algaroba  forests  cannot  be  estimated,  even  ap- 
proximately, for  a  large  proportion  of  the  pods  are  allowed  to 
fall  on  the  ground  and  are  eaten  by  cattle,  hogs  and  horses,  with- 
out being  previously  picked  up.  It  has  been  estimated  that  ap- 
proximately 500,000  bags  of  the  beans  are  annually  picked  up 
and  stored,  particularly  for  feeding  horses  and  cattle.  On  two 
or  three  estates  at  least  15,000  bags  of  beans  are  annually  stored 
for  this  purpose. 

Algaroba  wood  also  constitutes  one  of  the  best  and  chief 
sources  of  fuel  in  the  Territory.  Its  growth  is  comparatively 
rapid  and  the  larger  trees  can  be  removed  for  fuel,  thus  making 
room  for  the  growth  of  another  generation  of  trees.  In  addition 
to  these  uses  of  the  algaroba,  it  might  also  be  stated  that  the  bark 
contains  tannin,  and  the  gum  is  suitable  for  use  in  varnish. 
Being  a  legume,  and  of  remarkable  penetrating  power  in  the 
soils,  it  is  also  a  soil-maker  of  some  importance.  As  a  shade 
and  ornamental  tree  it  is  highly  appreciated.  The  form  of  the 
tree  is  graceful  and  spreading.  The  small  branches  furnish  ex- 
cellent material  for  making  charcoal.  Piles  made  from  algaroba 
are  relatively  free  from  the  attack  of  the  Toredo.  Moreover, 
since  the  pods  contain  a  high  percentage  of  sugar,  they  may 
be  used  in  the  manufacture  of  denatured  alcohol  and  vinegar. 

ALGAROBA  BEANS  AS  STOCK  FEED. 

The  algaroba  is  chiefly  interesting  on  account  of  the  enormous 
quantity  of  forage  which  the  beans  furnish.  As  already  stated, 
all  kinds  of  farm  stock  are  very  fond  of  them,  and  their  feeding 
value  has  long  been  recognized  from  the  practical  results  ob- 


tained.  As  a  feeding  material  there  seems  to  be  only  one  objec- 
tion to  them,  and  that  is,  a  slight  flavor  given  to  milk  when  the 
beans  are  fed  in  excess  to  the  dairy  cows.  This  objection,  how- 
ever, could  be  overcome  by  feeding  the  beans  after  milking, 
rather  than  before  milking.  The  whole  pods  of  the  algaroba 
show  the  following  percentage  composition:  Water  15.26,  pro- 
tein 8.89,  fat  .58,  nitrogen  free  extract  47.27,  crude  fibre  24.75, 
ash  3.25.  The  seeds  alone,  however,  have  the  following  percent- 
age composition:  Water  14.38,  protein  33.62,  fat  3.94,  nitrogen 
free  extract  36.78,  crude  fibre  6.84,  ash  4.44.  It  has  long  been 
known  that  on  account  of  the  hard  case,  like  that  of  a  shark's 
egg,  surrounding  each  seed,  the  seeds  themselves  are  not  digested 
by  live  stock.  On  this  account,  if  the  pods  are  fed  whole,  the 
protein  content  is  largely  lost  and  the  pods  do  not  furnish  a 
ration  so  well  balanced  as  would  be  the  case  if  the  seeds  were 
rendered  digestible. 

Realizing  the  great  importance  of  algaroba  beans  as  a  forage, 
a  number  of  persons  made  attempts  to  grind  the  pods,  in  order 
to  crack  the  beans,  and  thus  render  them  available  as  food.  Mr. 
Paul  Isenberg  spent  a  great  deal  of  time  and  money  in  this  ex- 
periment, during  which  confident  promises  of  success  were  made 
by  mainland  millers,  without  ultimate  success.  Similarly,  Mr. 
F.  G.  Krauss  of  this  Station,  while  connected  with  the  Kameha- 
meha  Schools,  had  experiments  made  by  six  or  more  mainland 
concerns  who  at  first  believed  that  some  of  their  mills,  designed 
for  grinding  drugs  and  miscellaneous  materials,  would  success- 
fully meet  the  problem  of  grinding  algaroba  beans.  All  their 
tests,  however,  proved  that  the  machinery  then  in  use  was  not 
adapted  to  grinding  the  algaroba.  The  difficulty  in  the  way  of 
grinding  the  beans  is  furnished  by  the  large  amount  of  sugar  in 
the  pulp  of  the  pods.  This  sugar  is  in  essentially  the  condition 
of  molasses  and  gradually  accumulates  on  the  milling  machinery, 
forming  a  layer  resembling  vulcanized  rubber  in  consistency, 
and  ultimately  causing  a  heating  of  the  machinery  so  that  it  has 
to  be  stopped.     The  cleaning  of  mill  machinery  which  has  once 


been  coated  with  this  layer  is  a  very  tedious  and  difficult  opera- 
tion. 

Two  years  ago  this  Station  began  experiments  in  grinding 
algaroba  beans  and  soon  came  to  the  conclusion  that  special 
machinery  was  needed  for  this  purpose.  It  was  found  that  vari- 
ous milling  machines  would  successfully  do  the  work  for  a  few 
minutes,  or  perhaps  for  half  an  hour,  but  that  ultimately  the 
coating  of  moistened  sugar  on  the  machinery  rendered  further 
operation  impossible.  It  was  found,  however,  that  the  addition 
of  a  very  small  quantity  of  water  to  the  cracked  pods  was  suffi- 
cient to  render  the  sugar  in  the  pods  no  longer  sticky.  The  ex- 
traction of  a  portion  of  the  sugar,  by  means  of  water,  makes  it 
possible  to  dry  the  cracked  pods  in  a  condition  in  which  any 
feed-grinder  will  successfully  crack  the  seeds.  The  removal  of 
a  portion  of  the  sugar,  howTever,  takes  away  some  of  the  feeding 
value  of  the  beans  and  renders  an  alcohol  or  vinegar  plant  neces- 
sary in  order  to  utilize  the  sugar  thus  extracted.  The  desirabil- 
ity of  special  machineiw,  which  would  successfully  crack  the 
beans  in  fresh,  untreated  pods,  became  therefore  more  and  more 
apparent.  Finally  the  interest  of  a  trained  mechanic  and  in- 
ventor, Mr.  C.  W.  Renear,  was  enlisted,  and  after  several  months 
of  experimenting,  he  succeeded  in  devising  a  machine  which 
would  grind  the  fresh  beans,  cracking  all  of  the  seeds,  and  thus 
renderino-  them  available  for  stock.  The  feeding  test  made  by 
this  Station  showed  that  the  seeds  thus  cracked  are  completely 
•  liar- ted  by  horses,  mules  and  cattle. 

In  repeated  tests  with  the  algaroba  bean  meal,  just  referred 
to,  it  was  found  desirable  to  adopt  the  suggestion  made  by  this 
Station  as  to  the  advantage  of  a  minute  spray  of  water  to  pre- 
vent the  sugary  material  from  adhering  to  the  roller  of  the  mill. 
After  this  device  was  adopted,  no  tendency  was  shown  for  the 
sugar  to  adhere,  and  the  roller  remained  perfectly  clean.  The 
amount  of  water  added  in  this  process  is  altogether  too  small  to 
endanger  the  keeping  qualities  of  the  meal.  The  sugar  in  the 
pods  does  not  ferment  unless  considerable  water  is  added.     The 


keeping  quality  of  the  meal  Jis  quite  sufficient  for  the  ordinary 
demands  of  the  trade.  When  kept  in  sacks  or  open  containers  it 
retains  its  original  odor  and  flavor,  without  change,  for  six  or 
eight  months,  and  the  meal  is  no  more  subject  to  the  attacks  of 
insects  than  is  any  other  grain  feed. 

On  account  of  the  prevalence  of  weevils,  which  attack  and 
destroy  the  seeds  on  the  tree,  or  after  the  pods  have  fallen  off, 
or  have  been  stored  in  bins,  it  was  thought  desirable  to  attempt 
the  introduction  of  parasites  to  control  these  weevils.  The 
Bureau  of  Entomology  of  the  United  States  Department  of 
Agriculture  very  kindly  consented  to  cooperate  with  this  Sta- 
tion, and  Dr.  W.  D.  Hunter  made  several  shipments  of  mesquite 
beans  containing  parasitized  weevils  from  Texas.  The  parasites 
were  bred  from  this  material  in  large  numbers  by  Mr.  D.  T. 
Fullaway  of  this  Station,  and  were  subsequently  liberated  on 
Maui  and  in  several  localities  near  Honolulu.  It  is  too  soon 
yet  to  speak  of  the  success  of  this  introduction,  but  if  subsequent 
investigation  shows  that  the  parasites  have  not  become  estab- 
lished, further  introductions  from  Texas  will  be  made  during  the 
coming  season. 

When  it  is  considered  that  women  and  children  pick  up  the 
beans  and  sell  them  for  from  $7.50  to  $10.00  a  ton,  it  is  appar- 
ent that  this  feed  has  a  much  higher  feeding  value  than  its  actual 
market  price,  particularly  when  compared  with  the  high  price 
which  must  be  paid  for  imported  feeds.  The  dairymen  and 
ranchmen  recognize  the  importance  of  feeding  large  quantities 
of  the  beans  picked  up  for  storage,  in  order  to  prevent  the  great 
loss  which  would  occur  if  they  were  all  left  upon  the  ground. 
Wherever  the  belts  of  algaroba  timber  are  large  it  has  been  found 
possible  to  maintain  stock  for  a  month  or  two  of  each  season 
without  any  other  forage  than  algaroba  beans.  Some  of  these 
belts,  however,  have  been  allowed  to  grow  up  much  too  dense. 
Under  such  conditions  the  individual  trees  remain  too  small  and 
the  yield  of  beans  is  less  than  would  be  the  case  if  the  trees  were 
thinned  out,  so  as  to  give  a  chance  for  each  tree  to  spread  to  its 


iimiv/PR^ITY  OF  FLORIDA 


8 


full  limit.  The  thinning  process  would  nearly,  if  not  quite,  pay 
for  itself  in  most  localities  in  the  fuel  which  would  thereby  be 
obtained.  With  the  successful  mill,  which  is  now  available  for 
grinding  algaroba,  the  feeding  value  of  this  already  important 
natural  forage  asset  of  the  Territory  will  be  greatly  increased. 


*^£&*&te^ 


